Methods, devices, and computer program products for geo-tagged photographic image augmented files

ABSTRACT

A method of providing augmented Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation can include detecting movement of a GPS enabled mobile device along a navigational route and displaying a photographic image on a display of the GPS enabled mobile device responsive to detecting movement of the GPS enabled mobile device along the navigational route provided by the GPS enabled mobile device. Related devices and computer program products are also disclosed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The instant application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/966,425 entitled “Methods, Devices, And Computer ProgramProducts For Geo-Tagged Photographic Image Augmented Files,” filed Dec.28, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present invention generally relates to the field of navigation usinga Global Positioning System (GPS).

Current GPS navigation systems (such as handheld, vehicle based, or evenphone based GPS navigation systems) can provide simplified diagrams andmaps with audio information to provide navigational routing for users.Some of these GPS navigation systems also provide labeled waypoints thatcan correspond to landmarks along the navigational route selected by theuser.

One approach to providing routing for users can be provided by Google,which is summarized on the Internet at the following URLgpsreview.net/google-maps-street-view/.

SUMMARY

According to exemplary embodiments, methods, devices, systems, andcomputer program products are provided for geo-tagged photographic imageaugmented GPS navigation. Pursuant to these embodiments, a method ofproviding augmented Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation caninclude detecting movement of a GPS enabled mobile device along anavigational route and displaying a photographic image on a display ofthe GPS enabled mobile device responsive to detecting movement of theGPS enabled mobile device along the navigational route provided by theGPS enabled mobile device.

Other systems, methods, and/or computer program products according toexemplary embodiments will be or become apparent to one with skill inthe art upon review of the following drawings and detailed description.It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, and/orcomputer program products be included within this description, be withinthe scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanyingclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a wireless communication systemconfigured to support GPS enabled mobile devices in some embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating GPS enabled mobile devices insome embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a display of a GPS enabledmobile device configured to selectively display a photographic imageresponsive to movement of the GPS enabled mobile device along anavigational route in some embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a display of a GPS enabledmobile device configured to selectively include photographic images inresponse to determined proximity of the GPS enabled mobile device towaypoints along the navigational route in some embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a display of a GPS enabledmobile device configured to selectively include photographic images ofviews associated with waypoints as seen by a user of the mobile devicewhile traveling a navigational route in some embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart that illustrates operations of a GPS enabledmobile device in some embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments are now described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying figures. This invention may, however, beembodied in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limitedto the embodiments set forth herein. Like numbers refer to like elementsthroughout the description of the figures.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, thesingular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the pluralforms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It willbe further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,”when used in this specification, specify the presence of statedfeatures, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, butdo not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groupsthereof. As used herein the term “and/or” includes any and allcombinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

It will be understood that, when an element is referred to as being“coupled” to another element, it can be directly coupled to the otherelement or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when anelement is referred to as being “directly coupled” to another element,there are no intervening elements present.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will befurther understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly useddictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art andwill not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense expresslyso defined herein.

Exemplary embodiments are described below with reference to diagrams(such as schematic illustrations) and/or operational illustrations ofmethods, devices, and computer program products. It is to be understoodthat the functions/acts noted in the figures may occur out of the ordernoted in the operational illustrations. For example, two elements shownin succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or theelements may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending uponthe functionality/acts involved.

The present invention may be embodied in hardware and/or in software(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.). Furthermore,the present invention may take the form. of a computer program producton a computer-usable or computer-readable storage medium havingcomputer-usable or computer-readable program code embodied in the mediumfor use by or in connection with an instruction execution system. In thecontext of this document, a computer-usable or computer-readable mediummay be any medium that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, ortransport the program for use by or in connection with the instructionexecution system, apparatus, or device.

The computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be, for example butnot limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic,infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagationmedium. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of thecomputer-readable medium would include the following: an electricalconnection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber,and a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM).

Computer program code or “code” for carrying out operations according tothe present invention may be written in an object oriented programminglanguage such as JAVA@, Smalltalk or C++, JavaScript, Visual Basic,TSQL, Perl, or in various other programming languages. Softwareembodiments of the present invention do not depend on implementationwith a particular programming language. Portions of the code may executeentirely on one or more systems utilized by an intermediary server.

The computer program code may be provided to a processor of a generalpurpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable dataprocessing apparatus as instructions to produce a machine, such that theinstructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus, create means for implementingthe functions specified in the illustrations.

The computer code may be stored in a computer-readable memory that candirect a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus tofunction in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored inthe computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture includinginstruction means which implement the function specified in theillustrations.

As described herein in greater detail, photographic images can bedisplayed on a GPS enabled mobile device responsive to movement of theGPS enabled mobile device along a navigational route. For example, asthe GPS enabled mobile device moves along the navigational routeprovided on the display, photographic images associated with waypointsalong the navigational route can be displayed as the proximity to thewaypoint is detected. Accordingly, as a user travels the navigationalroute, photographic images can be selectively displayed to augment theGPS enabled navigation to allow improved navigation by presentingrealistic imagery of waypoints that may be of importance to the user.For example, on the way to a relative's or friend's house, which is notnormally traveled by the user, geo-tagged photographic images can beselectively displayed by the GPS enabled mobile device as the userapproaches the location (or waypoint). When the photographic image isdisplayed, the user may be cued to a change in direction or be moreassured that the route being traveled is accurate.

In still other embodiments, the images that are selectively included onthe display may correspond to an area associated with a destination orwaypoint so that the user may become more familiar with the surroundingarea before traveling the navigational route. For example, the user maywish to familiarize him/herself with the immediately surrounding area tobecome more assured that the destination is safe before traveling to thedestination.

In still other embodiments, the geo-tagged photographic imagesselectively included on the display can be generated by the GPS enabledmobile device while operated by the user. For example, the user may betraveling over open terrain or otherwise away from a highway or welltraveled route and selectively include the photographic images withassociated geographical location information as the user travels theroute. Accordingly, when the user wishes to back-track, the photographicimages can be selectively included on the display as the user nears thegeographic location associated with the geo-tagged photographic image.Accordingly, such selective inclusion of geo-tagged photographic imagescan assist the user in more accurately navigating the same routepreviously traveled.

Further, the images selectively included on the display of the GPSenabled mobile device may be provided via links on the GPS enableddevice where the geo-tagged photographic images are actually stored onserver located on a network accessed via a wireless communications link.Accordingly, if the user desires to see geo-tagged photographic imageson the display of the GPS enabled mobile device, a link may be activatedand the photographic images associated with the current location, can befetched from the server. In some embodiments, the geo-taggedphotographic images are generated by third parties such as other partiesthat are included in the same organization or who simply wish to sharetheir geo-tagged photographic images with other users who travel routesincluding the same waypoints. In further embodiments, the businesseswishing users to visit their location can provide the geo-taggedphotographic images for access by the GPS enabled mobile device.

In still further embodiments, businesses and other organizations, e-g.,non-profit organizations, can provide geo-tagged photographic images ofwaypoints that are detours along the navigational route traveled by theuser. For example, businesses may provide geo-tagged photographic imagesof their locations so that a user may access the respective geo-taggedphotographic images before traveling the route (i.e., for trip planningpurposes). Accordingly, the user may pre-plan their route to visitcertain selected locations by the displaying the geo-tagged photographicimages on the display, which represent the detour waypoints along thenavigational route. The user may more efficiently configure their tripbased on the geo-tagged photographic images provided by the businesses.In further embodiments, the geo-tagged photographic images provided bythe businesses can be a plurality of geo-tagged photographic images eachof which represents a different perspective or view of the locationpromoted by the business (such as the neighborhood, interiorphotographic images, etc.).

As used herein, a “GPS enabled mobile device” (sometimes referred toherein simply as a “mobile device”) includes a device having a GPSlocation capability. Further, the mobile device may be configured tocommunicate via a wireless interface, such as a cellular radiotelephoneinterface, wireless local area network interface (WLAN), Bluetoothinterface, or another Radiofrequency (W) communications interface. A“mobile device” can include for example, a GPS navigation unit, such asa GPS navigation unit integrated into a vehicle, a handheld GPSnavigation unit carried by persons traveling on foot, a cell phone withbuilt-in GPS navigation and location capabilities, and an add-on GPSnavigation unit (typically used in a vehicle). Other mobile devicesinclude, but are not limited to a personal communication terminal thatmay combine a cellular mobile device with data processing, facsimile anddata communications capabilities; a personal data assistance (PDA) thatcan include a wireless transceiver, pager, Internet/intranet access,local area network interface, wide area network interface, Web browser,organizer, and/or calendar; and a mobile or fixed computer or otherdevice that includes a wireless transceiver.

Mobile devices according to embodiments may be configured to communicatevia a cellular communication link that may include a protocol such as,for example, ANSI-136, Global Standard for Mobile (GSM) communication,General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), enhanced data rates for GSMevolution (EDGE), code division multiple access (CDMA), wideband-CDMA,CDMA2000, and UMTS. Communication protocols as used herein may specifythe information communicated, the timing, the frequency, the modulation,and/or the operations for setting-up and/or maintaining a communicationconnection. Although the mobile devices shown in FIG. 1 are depicted asthe same type of device and are each referenced with numeral 20, itshould be appreciated that the mobile devices may be implemented withany number of different types of devices having the capabilitiesdescribed above.

Embodiments may also be used in celestial communications systems, suchas satellite communications systems. The celestial wirelesscommunication system may be employed to perform similar functions tothose performed by the wireless communications networks describedherein. In particular, the celestial wireless communications system mayinclude one or more satellites that serve as relays or transpondersbetween one or more earth stations and (satellite) mobile devices. Thesatellites may communicate with the satellite mobile devices and earthstations via duplex communication links. Each earth station may, inturn, be connected to a Public Switched Telephone Network, therebyallowing communications between the satellite mobile devices, and otherterminals included in any other system with which the celestial wirelesscommunication system is integrated. The celestial wireless communicationsystem may utilize a single antenna beam covering the entire geographicregion served by the system or the celestial wireless communicationsystem may be designed such that it produces multiple overlapping ornon-overlapping beams that serve different sub-regions of the entiregeographic region served by the celestial wireless communicationssystem. The satellites and the respective sub-regions may serve afunction similar to that of the base stations and the associated cellsin a typical terrestrial wireless communications network.

According to FIG. 1, a plurality of mobile devices 20 can communicatewith each other in a wireless communications network 10 via a MobileTelephone Switching Center (MTSC) 15. The mobile devices 20 can alsocommunicate with other terminals, such as terminals 26,28, via a PublicService Telephone Network (PSTN) 4 that is coupled to the network 10.

The wireless communications network 10 is organized as cells 1-2 thatcollectively can provide service to a geographic region. In particular,each of the cells 1-2 can provide service to associated sub-regionsincluded in the geographic region covered by the network 10. More orfewer cells can be included in the network 10, and the coverage area forsome of the cells in the network 10 may overlap one another. Basestations 30 a-b in the cells 1-2 provide wireless communications betweeneach other and the mobile devices 20 located in the geographic region ofthe cell to allow for communications between the mobile devices 20and/or the terminals 26,28 in the PSTN 4.

Each of the base stations 30 a-b can transmit/receive data to/from themobile devices 20 over an associated control channel. For example, thebase station 30 a can communicate with the mobile devices 20 located incell 1 over associated control channels (not shown). The controlchannels can be used to page the mobile devices 20 in response to callsdirected thereto or to transmit traffic channel assignments to themobile devices 20 over which a call associated therewith is to beconducted. The control channels can be identified using control channelnumbers or identifiers. For example, the mobile devices 20 can store achannel number that identifies the control channel on which it iscurrently camping.

As described herein, the mobile devices 20 can be GPS enabled devicesthat can display navigational routes to users. In particular, the mobiledevices 20 are capable of determining respective mobile devicegeographic location information that describes the geographic locationof the mobile devices 20 using GPS signals provided by a GlobalPositioning System (GPS) 180. In some embodiments, the mobile devices 20can use the GPS signals to determine their respective geographiclocations. It will be understood that the single satellite shown in FIG.1 represents the GPS 180, which can include a constellation of GPSsatellites. It will be understood that in some embodiments, the mobiledevice geographic location can be determined based on other types oflocation systems such as GALILEO and GLONASS.

As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile devices 20 can access a network 130 (suchas the Internet) via the MTSC 15 or, alternatively via a local wirelessnetwork 70, such as an IEEE 802.11 network or ad hoc Bluetooth ^(TM)compliant network, that is coupled to the network 130. As used herein,an “ad hoc” protocol network or transmitter refers to one that isgenerally configured at the time of use based on the resourcesavailable. Such networks, typically, provide a service discoveryprotocol to allow, for example, identification of available resources.They may also negotiate various aspects of operations, such as peerrelationships between resources, at the time of use of the resources.

As understood by those skilled in the art, Bluetooth™ is directed toproviding a relatively robust high-speed wireless connection withlow-power consumption and a low-cost architecture. Bluetooth™ technologymay provide a universal radio interface in the 2.45 GHz frequency bandto enable portable electronic devices to connect and communicatewirelessly via short-range ad hoc networks. Bluetooth™ technology isgenerally targeted towards the elimination of wires, cables, andconnectors between such devices and systems as cordless or mobilephones, modems, headsets, personal digital assistants (PDAs), computers,printers, projectors, and local area networks. The Bluetooth™ interfaceis further described in an article authored by Jaap Haartsen entitledBluetooth—The universal radio interface for ad hoc, wirelessconnectivity, Ericsson Review, No. 3, 1998 , which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Still referring to FIG. 1, a server 135 can store geo-taggedphotographic images for access by the mobile devices 20, for example, ina database. The geo-tagged photographic images are associated withgeographical location information that identifies a location depicted bythe photographic images. In some embodiments, the geo-taggedphotographic images are provided by users of the mobile devices 20 or bybusinesses that may wish the users to access their photographic imagesfor display on the mobile devices 20 in providing navigational routing.

In still other embodiments, the server 135 can also provide navigationalrouting responsive to the GPS location information provided by themobile device 20. For example, the mobile device 20 may providegeographical location information to the server 135 indicating theapproximate geographic location of the mobile device 20 and adestination. In response, the sewer 135 can provide navigational routingto the mobile device 20 to the destination. The server 135 may alsoprovide the geo-tagged photographic images associated with thenavigational route as the mobile device 20 moves along the navigationalroute. Accordingly, the mobile device may be relieved of generating anavigational route, but may instead off-load the generation of thenavigational route to the server 135 (or other system).

FIG. 2 is a block diagram that illustrates embodiments of mobilestations 20. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the mobile station 20 includes atransceiver circuit 242 that is operative to transmit and receive radiofrequency communication signals to the network 10 via an antenna system246. The antenna system 246 may include an antenna feed structure andone or more antennas.

As those skilled in the art will appreciate, a transmitter portion ofthe transceiver 242 converts the information, which is to be transmittedby the mobile station 20 into electromagnetic signals suitable for radiocommunications. A receiver portion of the transceiver 242 demodulateselectromagnetic signals, which are received by the mobile station 20from the network 10 to provide the information contained in the signalsin a format, which is understandable to the user.

A user interface 244 of the mobile station 20 may include a variety ofcomponents, such as a display 254, a keypad 252, a speaker 256, and amicrophone 250, operations of which are known to those of skill in theart. It will be understood that the functions of keypad 252 and thedisplay 254 can be provided by a touch screen through which the user canview information, such as computer displayable documents, provide inputthereto, and otherwise control the mobile station 20. It will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that computer displayabledocuments (or Web pages) can be, for example, hypertext documents, whichcan include text, images, input fields, output fields, and a variety ofother objects.

A processor circuit 251 can provide for overall operation of the mobilestation 20 including coordination of communications via the transceivercircuit 242, the user interface 244, and other components and systemsincluded in the mobile station 20. For example, the processor circuit251 can provide communications signals to the transceiver circuit 242when the user speaks into the microphone 250 and receives communicationssignals from the transceiver 242 for the reproduction of audio throughthe speaker 256. The processor circuit 251 can generate characters fordisplay on the display 254. For example, the processor circuit 251 cangenerate numbers for display when the user enters a telephone number onthe keypad 252. The characters can also be generated by a charactergenerator circuit, which is not shown. The processor circuit 251 mayalso provide image processing capabilities to enable retrieving anddisplay a photographic image stored in a digital format such as .jpg.

A GPS location circuit 260 is coupled to the processor circuit 251, andis configured to determine a geographic location for the mobile station20. It will be understood that although the operations discussed aboveare described as being carried out by the processor circuit 251, theseoperations may alternatively be carried out by specialized circuitryand/or software located outside the processor circuit 251 (such as suchcircuitry located within the GPS location circuit 260 itself). In someembodiments, a camera 226 is coupled to the processor circuit 251 andcan operate under control of the user to selectively includephotographic images associated with waypoint locations viewed by thecamera. In some embodiments, the camera 226 can provide videophotographic images and/or still photographic images.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the processor circuit 251 may be implementedusing a variety of hardware and software. For example, operations of theprocessor circuit 251 may be implemented using special-purpose hardware,such as an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) andprogrammable logic devices such as gate arrays, and/or software orfirmware running on a computing device such as a microprocessor,microcontroller or digital signal processor (DSP). The processor circuit251 may provide digital signal processing operations such as scanningfor an acceptable control channel, camping on a control channel(including maintaining synchronization with the base station thatcommunicates with the mobile station 20), Voice Activated Dialing (VAD)services, and the like.

A memory 253 can store computer program instructions that, when executedby the processor circuit 251, carry out the operations described hereinand shown in the figures. The memory 253 can be non-volatile memory,such as EEPROM (or flash memory), that retains the stored data whilepower is removed from the memory 253. In some embodiments, the memory253 can store geo-tagged photographic images generated by the mobiledevice 20 (via the camera 226) or uploaded from the server 135 andstored locally in the memory 253.

The mobile station 20 further includes a local wireless interfacecircuit 265 that can provide communication with the local wirelessnetwork (as discussed above). In some embodiments, the local wirelessinterface circuit 265 is a WLAN compliant interface or a Bluetoothcompliant interface. Accordingly, the local wireless interface circuit265 can be used to access geo-tagged photographic images on the server135 via the local wireless network 70. Alternatively, the geo-taggedphotographic images can be accessed from the memory 253.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the display 254 of a GPS enabledmobile device showing a selectively included photographic image 305 insome embodiments. In particular, the geo-tagged photographic image 305is selectively included on the display 254 responsive to determiningproximity to a waypoint 315 associated with a navigational route 3 10.The user of the GPS enabled mobile device can select a destination thatgenerates the navigational route 310, which includes a change indirection at the waypoint 315. As the GPS enabled mobile deviceapproaches the waypoint 315, the geo-tagged photographic image 305 thatis associated with the waypoint 315 is selectively included on thedisplay 254 to assist the user in more accurately locating the change indirection associated with the waypoint 315. For example, if the user isunfamiliar with the navigational route 310, the user may not be certainas to the exact location of the waypoint 315, which calls for the changein direction. Accordingly, the geo-tagged photographic image 305 isselectively included on the display 254 to assist the user in accuratelyidentifying the change in direction associated with the waypoint 315 toreduce the likelihood that the user will stray from the navigation route310. Similarly, in some embodiments the user may be able to selectwaypoints along a planned route and pre-view associated images prior toapproaching them.

According to FIG. 3, the geo-tagged photographic image 305 has anavigational route point of view perspective, which can assist the userin correctly identifying the waypoint 315 associated with the change indirection. In particular, the navigational route point of viewperspective can be the way in which the objects shown in the geo-taggedphotographic image 305 appear to the user when viewed from theperspective of the navigational route, such as when traveling on astreet surface in the direction of the navigational route 315. Forexample, the geo-tagged photographic image 305 shown in FIG. 3 can showthe objects therein to have the navigational route point of viewperspective to match the view that would be seen by a user travelingalong the road identified by the navigational route 310. In contrast,top down views (such as those viewed from the satellite perspective) maynot be as useful in guiding the user along the navigational route 310 asthose views are not provided from the perspective of the user along thenavigational route 310. The navigational route point of view perspectiveof the geo-tagged image 305 may assist the user in traveling thenavigational route 310 more accurately. Accordingly, when the user viewsthe actual scene including the objects included in the geo-taggedphotographic image 305 the user may more readily recognize the proximityof the waypoint 315 and therefore, recognize the change in directionassociated with the navigational route 310 at the waypoint 315.

It will be understood that the geo-tagged photographic images can havegeographic location information associated therewith, which is generatedas the GPS enabled mobile device moves. For example, as the GPS enabledmobile device moves along the navigational route 310 approaching thewaypoint 315, the mobile device can compare the current geographiclocation to waypoints along the navigational route 310. As thegeographic information identifying the location of the GPS enabledmobile device becomes more proximate to the location of the waypoint315, the GPS enabled mobile device can selectively include thephotographic image 305 associated with the waypoint 315. Furthermore, asthe GPS enabled mobile device moves beyond the waypoint 315, thephotographic image 305 formerly included on the display 205 can beremoved. It should be noted that in some embodiments the images may bedisplayed directly or by made available via icons indicating that imagesassociated with certain waypoints are available for viewing by selectingthe icon, e.g., via a touch sensitive screen on the device.

It will be understood that the photographic image 305 can be accessedfrom the local memory 253 within the GPS enabled mobile device, oralternatively, can be accessed over a wireless communications link andretrieved from, for example, the server 135 located accessed by theInternet 130 as shown in FIG. 1. Accordingly, the photographic imagesmay either be stored internally in the GPS enabled mobile device or maybe accessed remotely once the proximity to the waypoint 315 isdetermined. Furthermore, images associated with other waypoints locatedon the navigational route 310 can be pre-fetched in anticipation of theGPS enabled mobile devices movement toward those subsequent waypoints.

In still further embodiments, the photographic images identified forselective inclusion in display 254 can be provided via links provided onthe display

Accordingly, the user can selectively include the photographic image onthe display 254 by activating this link. For example, as the GPS enabledmobile device approaches the waypoint 315, a link or icon representingthe link may appear on the screen 254 so that the user may select theimage for inclusion on display. If the user elects not to include thephotographic image 305 on the display, the link may be ignored.Alternatively, if the user wishes to selectively include thephotographic image 305 on the display 254, the link can be activated(for example, using a touch screen) whereupon the photographic image 305is fetched from the local memory or the remote server 135 for selectiveinclusion on the display 254.

In still other embodiments, the geo-tagged photographic images 305 canbe provided on the server or within the GPS enabled mobile device bythird parties, such as friends, or businesses that have generated thegeo-tagged photographic images 305 for use by others. For example, otherusers who have traveled the same navigational route 310 may haveacquired the geo-tagged photographic images 305 associated with thewaypoint 315. Therefore, as a subsequent user approaches the waypoint315, the geo-tagged photographic images 305 generated by the thirdparties may be selectively included on the display 254 even though theuser may be unaware that the geo-tagged photographic images 305associated with the waypoint 315 exist until they are included on thedisplay 254.

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the display 254 of the GPSenabled mobile device including optional detour waypoints along thenavigational route 310, which may be selected as a destination by theuser. The optional detour waypoints 405,410,415, and 420 shown on thedisplay 254 can be selected for inclusion on the display 254 prior tothe user approaching the respective geographic location associated witheach of the optional detour waypoints 405,410,415, and 420. For example,a user traveling the navigational route 310 may specify a search of adatabase (provided by the server 135) of photographic images of thedetour waypoints determined to be within proximity of a portion of thenavigational route 310. For example, the navigational route may extendfor a substantial distance, which may entail a potential overnight stayby the user along the navigational route 310. Accordingly, the user canspecify a search of the database of photographic images, which includesviews of the subjects of the optional detour waypoints determined to bewithin the proximity of a further portion of the navigational route 310(such as within two (2) miles of the navigational route 310. Further,each of the optional detour waypoints 405,410, 415 and 420 can beselectively included on the display 254 based on the criteria providedin the search by the user. For example, the user may specify a certainbrand of hotel or a certain price range or a combination, which may beused as a criteria for selecting the photographic images for display. Itshould be noted that the actual images may be presented for selection asdepicted in FIG. 4 or they may be represented by icons displayedadjacent to the navigational route.

As further shown in FIG. 4, the optional detour waypoints 405,410, 415and 420 each show respective views of the optional detour waypoints. Inparticular, the optional detour waypoint 405 may show what is commonlyreferred to as an extended stay hotel in a perspective 405 a . Further,the optional detour waypoint 410 may show a major hotel chain locatedalong the same navigational route 310, but accessed by a different exitoff the highway, according to a perspective 410 a . Still further, theoptional detour waypoint 415 can be shown using a photographic image ofperspective 415 a , which also approximates the navigational route pointof view perspective associated with a low budget off brand hotel, whichsatisfies the search criteria provided by the user. Accordingly, theuser may determine that the optional detour waypoint 415 shown in thephotographic image 415 a is unacceptable and may therefore determinethat the optional detour waypoint 415 is not to be taken. Further, theoptional detour waypoint 420 can show a low budget motel in thephotographic image perspective 420 a shown from the navigational routepoint of view perspective of the user upon approach thereto. The usermay select the desired optional detour waypoint among the ones selectedfor inclusion on the display 254.

Further, secondary photographic images 405 b-c, 410 b-c, 415 b-c and 420b-c may show alternative views of the same optional detour waypointshown in the main image perspective (i.e., 405 a-420 a). These secondaryphotographic images may reflect the area in which the optional detouredwaypoint is located, or may be further detailed images regarding thetypes of accommodations or facilities associated with the optionaldetour waypoint 405-420. Accordingly, the user may also select theseimages from the display 254. The user can select these images forinclusion before leaving the navigational route 310.

In still other embodiments, as shown in FIG. 4, the optional detourwaypoints 405, 420 can be selectively included in the display prior toactual departure by the user along the navigational route 310. Forexample, the user may specify a search of the database on server 135 foroptional detour waypoints along the preplanned navigational route whichmay fulfill a particular objective specified by the user, such as theexistence of a particular type of business or a business offering aparticular type of service, such a service for a particular automobile.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of the display 254 on a GPS enabledmobile device used for traveling a navigational route 515, which islocated, for example, off a well traveled road. According to FIG. 5, ageo-tagged photographic image 505 can be selectively included on thedisplay 254 as a user approaches a geographical location associatedtherewith along the navigational route 515. For example, thenavigational route 515 can be located in a rural or relativelyun-traveled area in which the user may require assistance in followingthe navigational route 515. In some embodiments, the photographic image505 may be selectively included on the display 254 as the userapproaches the geographical location associated therewith along thenavigational route 515. Accordingly, the user may more readily confirmthat the navigational route 515 is in fact being traveled when viewingthe photographic image 505 on the display 254 and matching the objectslocated therein to actual objects viewed from the corresponding waypointassociated with the photographic image 505.

Furthermore, the photographic image 505 may also be selectively includedon the display 254 as the user travels the navigational route 515 in thereverse direction and on the proper side of the route to confirm thatthe user is backtracking the navigational route 515 correctly and ismore than likely to arrive at the point of origin along the navigationalroute 515. As described above, the photographic image 505 can beaccessed from either the memory of the GPS enabled mobile deviceincluding the display 254 or accessed via a wireless communications linkto the server 135 located on the internet 130. The photographic images505 may be captured by the GPS enabled mobile device itself (orassociated camera) or may have been captured by others traveling thesame navigational route 515. In some embodiments, the photographicimages include a timed series of photographic images to provide video inany of the cases described herein rather than still photographic images.Accordingly, the term “photographic image” will be interpreted toinclude video images as well as still images. In this way, video images505 can be selectively included on the display in response to theproximity of the waypoint.

As described herein, the GPS enabled mobile device may be, for example,a cellular radio telephone including a GPS location circuit that enablesthe cellular radio telephone to determine a proximate geographiclocation for the cellular radio telephone. In other embodiments, the GPSenabled mobile device can be an integrated GPS navigation unit includedin a vehicle, such as an automobile. In still further embodiments, theGPS enabled mobile device may be a handheld GPS enabled navigationalunit which displays maps and contours of terrain, the type of which iscommonly used to travel in rural or mountainous areas.

In still other embodiments, the GPS enabled mobile device can use thecamera 226 in FIG. 2 to acquire images associated with the waypoints tobe geo-tagged by the GPS enabled mobile device and stored therein oruploaded to the server 135 via the wireless communications link. Forexample, the camera 226 can be used to acquire an image of a scene thatis to be associated with a waypoint traveled by the user. In turn, theacquired photographic image is geo-tagged using the GPS location circuit260 included in the GPS enabled mobile device and can be either storedin the memory 253 or uploaded to the server 135 on the internet 130.Accordingly, other travelers along the same or similar navigationalroute 310 can access the geo-tagged photographic images acquired by thecamera 226 upon the proximity of those respective GPS enabled mobiledevices becoming proximate to the geographic location informationassociated with the image acquired by the camera 226.

In still further embodiments, the geo-tagged photographic image acquiredby the camera 226 may be protected by the user of the GPS enabled mobiledevice so that only authorized other users may selectively include thatphotographic image on the display 254 of their respective GPS enabledmobile device (such as family members, or other club members travelingthe same navigational route). In still other embodiments, the user ofthe GPS enabled mobile device may transmit the geo-tagged photographicimage directly to the other users who have traveled the samenavigational route traveled by the user who acquired the geo-taggedphotographic image. For example, the geo-tagged photographic image canbe included in MMS or SMS type message to another traveler along thesame navigational route so that the subsequent traveler may moreaccurately follow the navigational route to meet the users who acquiredthe photographic image used in the camera 226.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart that illustrates operations of GPS enabled mobiledevices in some embodiments. According to FIG. 6, a user travels anavigational route using the GPS enabled mobile device (Block 605). Asthe GPS enabled mobile device approaches a waypoint having a geo-taggedphotographic image associated therewith (Block 610). The GPS enabledmobile device comes into proximity with the geographic locationassociated with the waypoint (Block 615).

Once proximity to the geographic location associated with the waypointis determined, the geo-tagged photographic image can be selectivelyincluded on the display of the GPS enabled mobile device, where thegeo-tagged photographic image has a navigational route point of viewperspective (Block 620). Once the GPS enabled mobile device is no longerwithin proximity of the waypoint, the geo-tagged photographic imageassociated with the waypoint can be selectively moved from the display(Block 625).

As described herein, photographic images can be displayed on a GPSenabled mobile device responsive to movement of the GPS enabled mobiledevice along a navigational route. For example, as the GPS enabledmobile device moves along the navigational route provided on thedisplay, photographic images associated with waypoints along thenavigational route can be displayed as the proximity to the waypoint isdetected. Accordingly, as a user travels the navigational route,photographic images can be selectively displayed to augment the GPSenabled navigation to allow improved navigation by presenting realisticimagery of waypoints that may be of importance to the user. For example,on the way to a relative or friend's house, which is not normallytraveled by the user, geo-tagged photographic images can be selectivelydisplayed by the GPS enabled mobile device as the user approaches thelocation (or waypoint). When the photographic image is displayed, theuser may be cued to a change in direction or be more assured that theroute being traveled is accurate. Although various embodiments have beendescribed above with respect to photographic images, it will beunderstood that other types of images, such as virtual images, can alsobe used in accordance with further embodiments.

Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinaryskill in the art, given the benefit of present disclosure, withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it mustbe understood that the illustrated embodiments have been set forth onlyfor the purposes of example, and that it should not be taken as limitingthe invention as defined by the following claims. The following claimsare, therefore, to be read to include not only the combination ofelements which are literally set forth but all equivalent elements forperforming substantially the same function in substantially the same wayto obtain substantially the same result. The claims are thus to beunderstood to include what is specifically illustrated and describedabove, what is conceptually equivalent, and also what incorporates theessential idea of the invention.

1. A method comprising: responsive to determining that a mobile deviceis within proximity to subjects of waypoints along a navigational routeof the mobile device: searching, using search parameters provided by themobile device, a database of photographic images of views of subjects ofwaypoints determined to be within proximity of the navigational route ofthe mobile device; and selecting ones of found photographic images fordisplay on the mobile device; and displaying a photographic image of theones of found photographic images on a display of the mobile deviceresponsive to movement of the mobile device along a navigational route,the displayed photographic image having a navigational routepoint-of-view perspective as seen by a user of the mobile device whiletraveling the navigational route, wherein at least one of the foundphotographic images comprises a detour waypoint along the navigationalroute offered for selection prior to leaving the navigational route. 2.The method of claim 1, further comprising acquiring a photographic imagefor display via a camera on the mobile device.
 3. The method of claim 1,further comprising receiving a photographic image for display via awireless link to a database of photographic images on a network that isremote from the mobile device.
 4. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: facilitating the mobile device traveling the navigationalroute in reverse order by displaying on the mobile device, photographicimages of the ones of found photographic images in reverse order.
 5. Themethod of claim 4, wherein the photographic images provided in reverseorder are formatted as video comprising a timed series of thephotographic images.
 6. A mobile device configured to: responsive todetermining that the mobile device is within proximity to subjects ofwaypoints along a navigational route of the mobile device: search, usingsearch parameters provided by the mobile device, a database ofphotographic images of views of subjects of waypoints determined to bewithin proximity of the navigational route of the mobile device; andselect ones of found photographic images for display on the mobiledevice; and selectively display a photographic image of the ones offound photographic images on a display of the mobile device responsiveto movement of the mobile device along the navigational route, thedisplayed photographic image having a navigational route point-of-viewperspective as seen by a user of the mobile device while traveling thenavigational route on a surface, wherein at least one of the foundphotographic images comprises a detour waypoint along the navigationalroute offered for selection prior to leaving the navigational route. 7.The device of claim 6 further configured to acquire the photographicimage via a camera for display on the mobile device.
 8. The device ofclaim 6 further configured to receive the photographic image via awireless link to a database of photographic images on a network that isremote from the mobile device.
 9. The device of claim 6 furtherconfigured to: facilitate the mobile device to travel the navigationalroute in reverse order by displaying on the mobile device, photographicimages of the ones of found photographic images in reverse order. 10.The device of claim 9 wherein the photographic images provided inreverse order are formatted as video comprising a timed series of thephotographic.
 11. A database comprising: memory configured to store aplurality of photographic images of navigational route points-of-view;circuitry configured to: receive a request for a photographic image, therequest being indicative of a request from a device configured to:responsive to determining that the device is within proximity tosubjects of waypoints along a navigational route of the device: providethe request to the database, the request comprising search parametersprovided by the device; and display a photographic image provided by thedatabase on a display of the device responsive to movement of the devicealong the navigational route, the requested photographic image having anavigational route point-of-view perspective as seen by a user of thedevice while traveling the navigational route; responsive to receivingthe request for the photographic image: search the plurality ofphotographic images for photographic images of views of subjects ofwaypoints determined to be within proximity of the navigational route toprovide found photographic images; and select at least one of the foundphotographic images, wherein at least one of the found photographicimages comprises a detour waypoint along the navigational route offeredfor selection prior to leaving the navigational route; and provide theselected at least one found photographic images.
 12. The database ofclaim 11, wherein the request comprises search parameters indicative ofbeing provided by a user of the device.